With the rainy season coming to Terrace— October’s earlier and earlier sunsets and November’s gloomy days looming—I was googling Rupert’s average annual overcast days and Kitimat’s record snowfalls when I came upon a magical forest.

EDMONTON — Farmers across Western Canada will likely see a continuation of dry, mild conditions for the rest of the winter and extending into spring as the lingering effects of El Nino continue to be felt in North America and around the world.

Our good friend, my godson, has his birthday in August. Birthday parties involving wiener-roasts often happened at Kleanza Creek just west of Terrace, a shaded area beside cool running water in a lovely setting.

Let’s celebrate the anniversary of the publication, on February 18, 1693, of A Treatise of the Roman Ports and Forts of Kent, in which William Somner finds a suspicious place name: “Probably it is not the true, genuine, ancient and original name, but rather a corruption of the right name contracted and caused by that grand corruption as well of names as things, time.”

Five more passing lanes for trains will be added along the tracks between Prince Rupert and Edmonton. In 2011, more than a half million train-car loads moved over the BC north corridor, and could double by 2015. Technology was also upgraded for the trains— some of which are now 12,000 feet long.